Rules of Passion (Greentree Sisters Trilogy) [Paperback]

Sara Bennett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 22, 2006 | Series: Greentree Sisters Trilogy

Set in the lush Victorian era, this series is about three sisters who overcame harsh beginnings and a shocking courtesan lineage to discover that love is indeed attainable for all.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sara Bennett has always had an interest in history, and to survive a series of mind-numbing jobs, she turned to writing historical romance. She lives in an old house with her husband and two children in the state of Victoria, Australia, where she tries to keep the house and garden tidy, but rarely succeeds—she'd rather be writing or reading.

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd (November 22, 2006)
• ISBN-10: 0732283140
• ISBN-13: 978-0732283148
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very very Passionate!!, November 27, 2005

By 

J. Brennan (Pittsburgh) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rules of Passion (Mass Market Paperback)

This one indeed sizzled and I love sizzle! Max Valland, Lord Roseby began as a brooding , depressed disinherited duke's son. By chance he meets the very beautiful Marietta Greentree, in a hot air balloon ride. She is the daughter of Aphrodite, London's leading courtesan. Since Marietta had been ruined at a young age by a scoundrel who took her virtue and then flees, she believes no man of value will ever want her.

Each time she meets Max, there is something about his brooding manner though that causes her to be drawn to him. Outside of Aphrodite's brothel he is struck down and almost killed. Marietta nurses him back to life. Marietta's plan for her life is to become a courtesan, like her mother. She believes since she has been ruined why not protect herself from the hurt of ever letting any man too close to hurt her again.

Max believes this is the wrong life for Marietta, so he agrees to train her in the ways of passion, in order to prove she is not cut out for life in a brothel. Well the sizzle indeed begins at this point and there are some great love scenes throughout the rest of this book. Max, truly believes the only thing in his life worth anything is now Marietta.

He has a paltry estate on the Cornish coast he intends to retreat to and somehow etch out a life, now that he has been disinherited by his father. Of course Max's life still seems to be endanger from someone. This troubles Marietta as she helps him trap the guilty person. There is also the problem of whether Max is in fact the Duke's real son or not? The danger for Max and the inheritance are both good mysteries and enhance the love story developing between Max and Marietta. Marietta just somehow needs to deal with whether she can allow her heart to feel again, and risk being hurt.

This is a great story between two people that in different ways seem to have lost hope and together they find that they give each other not only love, but hope for a future! Very well written story high on romance and well deserving of five roses.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Captivating all the way to the last word, October 24, 2005

By 

D. Lane "Book lover" (austin, tx United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rules of Passion (Mass Market Paperback)

Rules of Passion possesses everything for a good, satisfying read. This book is sharp and fast-moving. Filled with Lovable characters, exciting and action-mystery twists. Lots of laugh out-loud scenes and oh so plenty of heart warming moments. If you long to be swept into the lives of two enchanting people, I highly recommend this one. The love scenes are ample & steamy, and the plot is a good one. The relationship between Marietta and Max sizzles and there are no misunderstandings that tear the two apart for long periods. Any misunderstandings are dealt with within a few pages and that is very refreshing to this reviewer. Rules of Passion is witty, romantic, has good strong characters and an unexpected ending.

The plot and characters seemed fresh, the pace was quick, and it was a totally engrossing read. Full of enjoyable supporting characters and stories. I love this book. You will feel like smoking after the sex scenes in this book. The relationship between the leads is endearing. The secondary characters are enjoyable as well. This book is sharp and fast-moving. Filled with Lovable and exciting characters. This was a very entertaining book. This book was a pleasure to read and I couldn't put it down until it was finished. I really enjoyed the characters, as they were very likeable. A fast paced book with an intricate plot that I cannot help but enjoy. The interaction between the leads was great. There is enough conflict to make the story line interesting and not so much that your left wondering why they ever got together. This book is sharp and fast-moving. I was sad to have it end, but satisfied at the ending! I can't wait until the next book comes out in the series.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fabulous Victorian romance, September 28, 2005

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rules of Passion (Mass Market Paperback)

The three Slater sisters are ecstatic over meeting their long lost biological mother Aphrodite Greentree (see LESSONS IN SEDUCTION), who they were separated from years ago when they were small children. Aphrodite runs a successful brothel so must be discrete with her beloved now adult children so as to not hurt their chances for a good match. Her oldest child stalked her beloved in Aphrodite's brothel. Now her middle daughter Marietta wants to become a courtesan just like her natural mother was and asks her to train her in the art of seduction

Madame Aphrodite hopes to persuade her daughter that this is not a way of life for her, but feels she must do so with stealth as she herself has had a good life as a courtesan. Thus she promises to take Marietta on as an apprentice, but first her daughter must survive a test of fire. She must seduce the posterboy of scandals Max Valland, a morose and disinherited aristocrat. Max accepts his dissipated role, but he finds he cannot have enough of the tyro; she in turn breaks the courtesan's maxim of never falling in love with the bill payer.

The second Slater saga is a fabulous Victorian romance starring the wildest of the three sisters and an outcast aristocrat anticipating a tryst that turns the three RULES OF PASSION, as both understand them now, upside down when their hearts enter the equation. "Naughty" Marietta and "mad" Max are an enchanting pairing while the support cast brings out the worst in both of them to the delight of readers. Fans will look forward to the tale of the youngest sibling as Sara Bennett livens up the sub-genre.

Harriet Klausner